President calls forests and waterways national treasures - values the Save the Putnam Trail campaign has been touting

Putnam Trail enveloped by beauty

We will respond to the threat of climate change knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations.

New York, NY (PRWEB) January 23, 2013

President Obama applauded developing new sources of energy to maintain economic vitality and maintain our forests and waterways as national treasures. “We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations,” President Obama said in his inaugural speech to the nation on Monday. “We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure - our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God.”

According to Save the Putnam Trail, a grassroots campaign located in New York City, the Parks Department is planning to widen and pave over an historic popular nature trail in the city’s fourth largest park, Van Cortlandt Park.

The Riverdale Press 11/9/2011 noted: "The money is a federal earmark dating back to 2005’s Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, more commonly called the transportation bill or the highway bill. Mr. Engel earmarked $500,000 and Rep. Anthony Weiner earmarked $950,000 for fixing up the Putnam Trail, according to Mr. Engel’s office."**

On top of that the Mayor added $960,000 taken from city taxpayer coffers.

Mike Oliva, a coordinator of Save the Putnam Trail said; "We believe the President's endorsement of the importance of the country's forests and waterways matches the values endorsed by the Save the Putnam Trail campaign."